STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1679

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 227

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 227, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMMIGRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Judiciary to contract with the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii to provide immigrants with:

(1) Legal assistance and legal counsel in determining legal status and citizenship;

(2) Diversion to existing services; and

(3) Counsel for existing rights.

O‘ahu County Democrats and a few individuals supported this measure. Several individuals opposed this measure. The Judiciary offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by removing the requirement that the Judiciary contract with the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and allowing the Judiciary to contract with nonprofit organizations.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 227, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 227, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair